States of States of ConsciousnessConsciousness

Chapter 7 265-307Chapter 7 265-307

ConsciousnessConsciousness

Awareness of ourselves and our Awareness of ourselves and our environmentenvironment

As we have seen the brain excels at parallel As we have seen the brain excels at parallel processing information, such as sensory processing information, such as sensory input.input.

Our conscious mind however, processes in Our conscious mind however, processes in sequence (basically one thing at a time)sequence (basically one thing at a time)

Learning skills is a way train ourselves to Learning skills is a way train ourselves to do something so well we don’t have to think do something so well we don’t have to think about it at a conscious level anymore.about it at a conscious level anymore.

Daydreams FantasyDaydreams Fantasy A kind of mental play – daydreams and A kind of mental play – daydreams and

fantasies can be usefulfantasies can be useful Relieve tensionRelieve tension Increase creativityIncrease creativity Illuminate solutions to problemsIlluminate solutions to problems Lesson boredomLesson boredom

However if daydreaming stops you from However if daydreaming stops you from accomplishing the things you need to do accomplishing the things you need to do they can become a negative thing.they can become a negative thing.

Biological RhythmsBiological Rhythms Over various time periods the body Over various time periods the body

changes and so with it our minds…changes and so with it our minds… Annual cycles – Ducks migrating, bears Annual cycles – Ducks migrating, bears

hibernating, people often become hibernating, people often become depressed with seasonal affective disorder.depressed with seasonal affective disorder.

Twenty-eight-day Cycles – female Twenty-eight-day Cycles – female menstrual cyclemenstrual cycle

24hr cycles – all mammals and birds sleep 24hr cycles – all mammals and birds sleep on a 24 hr cycle, rising falling growth on a 24 hr cycle, rising falling growth hormone secretions/alertnesshormone secretions/alertness

90 min cycles – the sleep cycle90 min cycles – the sleep cycle

Circadian RhythmCircadian Rhythm

Circadian Rhythm is the 24 Circadian Rhythm is the 24 biological clock most mammals biological clock most mammals including humans are on.including humans are on.

Body temperature rises as morning Body temperature rises as morning approaches, peaks during the day, approaches, peaks during the day, falls off in early afternoon, drops falls off in early afternoon, drops again before sleep.again before sleep.

Circadian RhythmCircadian Rhythm

Sleep StagesSleep Stages There is a biological rhythm to our sleep, There is a biological rhythm to our sleep,

it usually goes in 90 min cycles.it usually goes in 90 min cycles.

Stages of SleepStages of Sleep

Awake relaxed = Alpha wavesAwake relaxed = Alpha waves Sleep – periodic, natural, reversible Sleep – periodic, natural, reversible

loss of consciousness. You cannot loss of consciousness. You cannot tell when you go to sleep but you can tell when you go to sleep but you can tell when you awake from it.tell when you awake from it.

Stage 1 (about 5 min) strong Stage 1 (about 5 min) strong hallucinations may occur, sensations hallucinations may occur, sensations of falling or floatingof falling or floating

Stages of SleepStages of Sleep

Stage 2 (20 min) clearly asleep, harder Stage 2 (20 min) clearly asleep, harder to wake up, can often mumble to wake up, can often mumble nonsense nonsense

Stage 3 (2-5 min) a transitional stage of Stage 3 (2-5 min) a transitional stage of sleep to get you to stage 4.sleep to get you to stage 4.

Stage 4 sleep (30 min) you are very Stage 4 sleep (30 min) you are very hard to awaken, your brain produces hard to awaken, your brain produces long slow delta waves on the EEG, at long slow delta waves on the EEG, at the end of this stage sometime children the end of this stage sometime children can sleepwalk or wet their bed.can sleepwalk or wet their bed.

REM SleepREM Sleep

Lasts about 10 min. Brain waves Lasts about 10 min. Brain waves look almost like you are awake, look almost like you are awake, shallow breathing, eye movement, shallow breathing, eye movement, visual and auditory areas of the visual and auditory areas of the brain are active. As the night goes brain are active. As the night goes on REM sleep takes up more and on REM sleep takes up more and more of the 90 min sleep cycle, by more of the 90 min sleep cycle, by morning about 100 min of sleep has morning about 100 min of sleep has been REM sleep.been REM sleep.

Other sleep factsOther sleep facts

Even though you are asleep you still Even though you are asleep you still can process information, you move can process information, you move around on the bed but don’t fall out, around on the bed but don’t fall out, if you sleep with babies in the bed if you sleep with babies in the bed you will not roll over them (unless you will not roll over them (unless you are intoxicated or on drugs). you are intoxicated or on drugs). The roar of an ambulance might not The roar of an ambulance might not wake you up but your babies crying wake you up but your babies crying will.will.

Why do we Sleep?Why do we Sleep? Sleep patterns vary, adults need less than Sleep patterns vary, adults need less than

children, some people are ok with 6 hrs per children, some people are ok with 6 hrs per night some have to have 9. Sleep patterns night some have to have 9. Sleep patterns have been detected to be similar in identical have been detected to be similar in identical twins.twins.

Your body keeps track of “sleep debt” for Your body keeps track of “sleep debt” for about two weeks. Thus if you don’t sleep well about two weeks. Thus if you don’t sleep well for a number of nights, just one night of good for a number of nights, just one night of good sleep might not be enough to make up for it.sleep might not be enough to make up for it.

REM Rebound refers to the fact that REM REM Rebound refers to the fact that REM sleep will increase if you have missed out on it.sleep will increase if you have missed out on it.

Sleep Deprivation EffectsSleep Deprivation Effects

Not getting enough sleep not only makes Not getting enough sleep not only makes you sleepy but also gives you a general you sleepy but also gives you a general sense of malaise (unwell/sick).sense of malaise (unwell/sick).

Diminished productivity, tendency to Diminished productivity, tendency to make mistakes, irritability. More accident make mistakes, irritability. More accident prone. Impaired creativity, hormonal prone. Impaired creativity, hormonal activity that mimics aging, is conductive activity that mimics aging, is conductive to obesity, hypertensionto obesity, hypertension

Affects the immune system, makes it Affects the immune system, makes it easier to become sick.easier to become sick.

Are you Sleep Deprived?Are you Sleep Deprived?

See page 278See page 278 Why Sleep?Why Sleep? Sleep protectsSleep protects Sleep helps us recuperate, restore body Sleep helps us recuperate, restore body

tissue. The brain repairs itself, tissue. The brain repairs itself, reorganizes itself, consolidates reorganizes itself, consolidates memoriesmemories

May have some role in the growth May have some role in the growth process as the pituitary gland releases process as the pituitary gland releases growth hormones during sleep.growth hormones during sleep.

Sleep DisordersSleep Disorders

Insomnia – recurring problems in Insomnia – recurring problems in falling or staying asleep.falling or staying asleep.

Narcolepsy – Uncontrollable sleep Narcolepsy – Uncontrollable sleep attacksattacks

Sleep Apnea – people who stop Sleep Apnea – people who stop breathing in their sleep and who wake breathing in their sleep and who wake up snorting for breathup snorting for breath

Night terrors – Stage 4 sleep near Night terrors – Stage 4 sleep near waking of terror.waking of terror.

Natural ways to help you Natural ways to help you sleepsleep

Relax before bedtimeRelax before bedtime Avoid caffeine and chocolate, have a Avoid caffeine and chocolate, have a

glass of milk (rich in serotonin glass of milk (rich in serotonin materials)materials)

Sleep on a regular scheduleSleep on a regular schedule Exercise regularly but not right Exercise regularly but not right

before bedbefore bed

DreamsDreams Lucid Dreams – dreams where you know you Lucid Dreams – dreams where you know you

are dreaming in them.are dreaming in them. We spend on average 6 years of our life We spend on average 6 years of our life

dreaming. 8 out of 10 dreams for both men dreaming. 8 out of 10 dreams for both men and women have negative emotions in them.and women have negative emotions in them.

Manifest Content – according to Freud, the Manifest Content – according to Freud, the remembered storyline of a dream.remembered storyline of a dream.

Often incorporates previous days eventsOften incorporates previous days events Sensory stimuli from our environment might be Sensory stimuli from our environment might be

incorporated into our dream.incorporated into our dream. We usually forget whatever was going on We usually forget whatever was going on

during the 5 min just before we fall asleep.during the 5 min just before we fall asleep.

FreudFreud

1900 published The Interpretation of 1900 published The Interpretation of DreamsDreams

Argued that dreams provide a psychic Argued that dreams provide a psychic safety valve for otherwise unacceptable safety valve for otherwise unacceptable feelingsfeelings

Believe manifest content was symbolic of Believe manifest content was symbolic of unconscious drives and wishes that unconscious drives and wishes that would be threatening if expressed would be threatening if expressed directly. He called the underlying real directly. He called the underlying real meanings of dreams the meanings of dreams the Latent ContentLatent Content

Why do we dream?Why do we dream?

Freud’s theories were un-provable, as symbolic Freud’s theories were un-provable, as symbolic content can be interpreted anyway you want.content can be interpreted anyway you want.

Modern theories think that dreaming is a way Modern theories think that dreaming is a way of information processing that helps us store of information processing that helps us store memories. Scientists know that REM sleep memories. Scientists know that REM sleep helps facilitate memory and if its interrupted it helps facilitate memory and if its interrupted it hurts it.hurts it.

Scientists have studied rats and were able to Scientists have studied rats and were able to determine they were going visually through a determine they were going visually through a maze that they had learned earlier in the day maze that they had learned earlier in the day in their dream.in their dream.

Physiological reasonsPhysiological reasons The brain needs to keep up neural The brain needs to keep up neural

pathways by using them. Some scientists pathways by using them. Some scientists think that dreams stimulate the brain while think that dreams stimulate the brain while you sleep so it doesn’t lose its capacity to you sleep so it doesn’t lose its capacity to retain memories or skills. Infants who’s retain memories or skills. Infants who’s pathways are developing spend pathways are developing spend significantly more time in REM sleep.significantly more time in REM sleep.

Some scientists think that neural activity is Some scientists think that neural activity is random and dreams are the brain’s random and dreams are the brain’s attempt to organize the random attempt to organize the random information into a meaningful storyinformation into a meaningful story

HypnosisHypnosis

Hypnosis – a social interaction in Hypnosis – a social interaction in which one person (the hypnotist) which one person (the hypnotist) suggests to another (the subject) that suggests to another (the subject) that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts, certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts, or behaviors will spontaneously occur.or behaviors will spontaneously occur.

Scientists have been puzzled at what Scientists have been puzzled at what exactly hypnosis is. Some say it is an exactly hypnosis is. Some say it is an altered state of consciousness, others altered state of consciousness, others say it’s a hoax.say it’s a hoax.

Hypnosis FactsHypnosis Facts

Those who study hypnosis agree that its Those who study hypnosis agree that its power lies not in the hypnotist but in the power lies not in the hypnotist but in the subject’s openness to suggestion.subject’s openness to suggestion.

One of the tests to see if you are susceptible One of the tests to see if you are susceptible to suggestion is to have someone stand up to suggestion is to have someone stand up straight and close their eyes, now calmly straight and close their eyes, now calmly tell them that they are swaying back and tell them that they are swaying back and forth over and over. Those who end up forth over and over. Those who end up swaying a little after a while are usually the swaying a little after a while are usually the same people who are best able to be same people who are best able to be hypnotized.hypnotized.

HypnosisHypnosis Many people simply define hypnosis as the ability to Many people simply define hypnosis as the ability to

turn attention inward and imagine.turn attention inward and imagine. The trick to hypnotizing someone is to have the The trick to hypnotizing someone is to have the

subject subject believe you or expectbelieve you or expect what you say will what you say will come true. So when a hypnotist asks you to strain come true. So when a hypnotist asks you to strain your eyes and look at a point far away and then your eyes and look at a point far away and then suggests that your eyes are “getting sleepy” it suggests that your eyes are “getting sleepy” it probably is because they are, but now you believe probably is because they are, but now you believe the hypnotist, so the next small thing he asks of you, the hypnotist, so the next small thing he asks of you, you will be more susceptible to do.you will be more susceptible to do.

Post-hypnotic suggestionPost-hypnotic suggestion – is a suggestion during – is a suggestion during hypnosis made to be carried out after the hypnosis hypnosis made to be carried out after the hypnosis session it is used in some therapies such as trying to session it is used in some therapies such as trying to control hunger or smoking.control hunger or smoking.

HypnosisHypnosis Hypnosis has been found to help heal some ailments Hypnosis has been found to help heal some ailments

like asthma, headaches, warts, stress related skin like asthma, headaches, warts, stress related skin disorders, disorders, but no more so than positive suggestion but no more so than positive suggestion was shown to dowas shown to do to people who were not hypnotized. to people who were not hypnotized.

Hypnosis has been able to reduce pain effectively. Hypnosis has been able to reduce pain effectively. About 10% of the population is able to go though About 10% of the population is able to go though major surgery without pain under hypnosis, around major surgery without pain under hypnosis, around 50% can gain at least slight pain relief from 50% can gain at least slight pain relief from hypnosis. This may be a form of hypnosis. This may be a form of dissociationdissociation a a splitting of consciousness so that putting your hand splitting of consciousness so that putting your hand in ice water feels very cold, but it is separated from in ice water feels very cold, but it is separated from the emotional stress and suffering that defines it as the emotional stress and suffering that defines it as pain. Other people theorize that it might be a form pain. Other people theorize that it might be a form of selective attention such as when an athlete of selective attention such as when an athlete sustains an injury but doesn’t realize till after the sustains an injury but doesn’t realize till after the game how bad it is.game how bad it is.

HypnosisHypnosis

Because most behaviors people can Because most behaviors people can experience through hypnosis they can experience through hypnosis they can also experience while not being also experience while not being hypnotizedhypnotized

Many people look at the power of role Many people look at the power of role play and the power of perception over play and the power of perception over reality to explain hypnotic actions, that reality to explain hypnotic actions, that people are not “faking” hypnotic effects people are not “faking” hypnotic effects but just doing what’s expected of them.but just doing what’s expected of them.

Divided ConsciousnessDivided Consciousness Hypnosis does have some evidence that it is Hypnosis does have some evidence that it is

more than just suggestibility however.more than just suggestibility however. People under hypnosis generate distinctive People under hypnosis generate distinctive

brain activity, posthypnotic suggestions will brain activity, posthypnotic suggestions will often activate even when no one is watching.often activate even when no one is watching.

Hypnosis experts sometimes believe that a Hypnosis experts sometimes believe that a divided consciousness has occurred, a kind of divided consciousness has occurred, a kind of autopilot response that occurs while the autopilot response that occurs while the conscious state becomes a “conscious state becomes a “hidden observer.hidden observer.””

In one example a hypnotized person placed her In one example a hypnotized person placed her hand in an ice bath and exhibited no signs of hand in an ice bath and exhibited no signs of pain, but when asked to push a button to tell if pain, but when asked to push a button to tell if she felt any pain anywhere, she did.she felt any pain anywhere, she did.

Drugs and ConsciousnessDrugs and Consciousness

There are three There are three main classification main classification for psychoactive for psychoactive drugs.drugs.

DepressantsDepressants StimulantsStimulants HallucinogensHallucinogens

AddictionAddiction Tolerance - Diminishing Tolerance - Diminishing

effect of using a effect of using a psychoactive drug psychoactive drug requiring using more of requiring using more of the drug to get the same the drug to get the same effect or eventually to effect or eventually to even normally function.even normally function.

Physical dependence – Physical dependence – When the absence of a When the absence of a drug causes a physical drug causes a physical withdrawal withdrawal symptoms.symptoms.

Psychological Psychological dependence – the need to dependence – the need to use a drug to relieve use a drug to relieve negative emotions. (self-negative emotions. (self-medication)medication)

DepressantsDepressants Depressants reduce Depressants reduce

mental activity and mental activity and slow body functions.slow body functions.

Most common Most common depressants are depressants are Alcohol, Barbiturates, Alcohol, Barbiturates, and Opiates (pain killer and Opiates (pain killer drugs like morphine)drugs like morphine)

The main danger from The main danger from depressants is slowing depressants is slowing the body down so much the body down so much you go into cardiac you go into cardiac arrest – your heart arrest – your heart stops.stops.

Dangers of LiquorDangers of Liquor

1. Long term effects – liver failure, 1. Long term effects – liver failure, cancer of stomach, throat, and brain cancer of stomach, throat, and brain damage, reproductive organ damage.damage, reproductive organ damage.

2. Act different, feel invincible, low 2. Act different, feel invincible, low inhibitionsinhibitions

3. Memory loss3. Memory loss 4. Hangovers4. Hangovers 5. Possible depression5. Possible depression

StimulantsStimulants Drugs that excite neural Drugs that excite neural

activity and speed up activity and speed up body functions.body functions.

Most popular: Caffeine, Most popular: Caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines nicotine, amphetamines (speed), cocaine, crack(speed), cocaine, crack

Stimulants often Stimulants often suppress appetite and suppress appetite and many have been used as many have been used as diet pills but have been diet pills but have been found to cause heart found to cause heart damage.damage.

The most common of all stimulantsCaffeine is also an addictive drug withphysical withdrawal symptoms.

CrackCrack

Refined cocaine that Refined cocaine that is very powerful and is very powerful and inhaled instead of inhaled instead of snorted.snorted.

Creates a feeling of Creates a feeling of euphoria and euphoria and invincibility or invincibility or extreme paranoiaextreme paranoia

Is many time more Is many time more addictive and easy to addictive and easy to overdose and cause overdose and cause cardiac arrest.cardiac arrest.

HallucinogensHallucinogensHallucinogens affect certain Neurotransmitters such as Serotonin and cause hallucinations. Sensation and perception are altered and you can see or hear things that in fact don’t exist or cross the sensory spectrum, (like seeing sound or hearing color). Hallucinogens are dangerous because it is difficult to predict the experience of the individual users which could vary from a sense of wonderment to complete paranoia and even suicide.

A collection of LSD. LSD is a liquid thatcan be added to anything and it only takesA very small amount to cause hallucinations

MarijuanaMarijuana

Active ingredient is THCActive ingredient is THC Relaxes, disinhibits, creates a “high”Relaxes, disinhibits, creates a “high” Amplifies sensitivity to colors, Amplifies sensitivity to colors,

sounds, tastes, and smellssounds, tastes, and smells Can amplify feelings of anxiety and Can amplify feelings of anxiety and

depressiondepression

Can be therapeutic for pain relief and Can be therapeutic for pain relief and increases appetite which has made it a increases appetite which has made it a drug of choice for cancer patients and drug of choice for cancer patients and attempts at legalization for such attempts at legalization for such patients have been made.patients have been made.

Immediate negative effects include Immediate negative effects include affecting motor and rational judgment affecting motor and rational judgment similar to alcohol, it also affects short similar to alcohol, it also affects short term memory, and lung damage from term memory, and lung damage from smoke.smoke.

The Real Problem with The Real Problem with DrugsDrugs

Drugs in general are dangerous even deadly with Drugs in general are dangerous even deadly with each use as they change body chemistry in each use as they change body chemistry in unpredictable ways and affect your judgement.unpredictable ways and affect your judgement.

However, psychoactive drugs all have in common However, psychoactive drugs all have in common this inescapable issue: The immediate positive this inescapable issue: The immediate positive or pleasurable effects that they give the user are or pleasurable effects that they give the user are countered by a withdrawal or negative emotions countered by a withdrawal or negative emotions when the drug is absent. The negative effects when the drug is absent. The negative effects are always longer lasting and grow due to are always longer lasting and grow due to tolerance. tolerance. So in the end constant drug use and So in the end constant drug use and addiction always lead to a addiction always lead to a destructive destructive lifestyle.lifestyle.

Influences on Drug UseInfluences on Drug Use Biological influences – there is evidence that some Biological influences – there is evidence that some

people are genetically more susceptible to people are genetically more susceptible to addiction, specifically alcoholism than others.addiction, specifically alcoholism than others.

Cultural influences – Peer culture is the number Cultural influences – Peer culture is the number one predictor of drug use.one predictor of drug use.

Psychological influences – People often “self Psychological influences – People often “self medicate” use drugs to escape a trauma, or medicate” use drugs to escape a trauma, or feelings of meaninglessness.feelings of meaninglessness.

These influences guide many prevention and These influences guide many prevention and recovery programs. For example in order for many recovery programs. For example in order for many people to quit drugs they need to find a new group people to quit drugs they need to find a new group of friends who don’t use or they must get of friends who don’t use or they must get psychological help to deal with their trauma.psychological help to deal with their trauma.

Near Death ExperiencesNear Death Experiences

Many times people who come close to Many times people who come close to death experience an altered state of death experience an altered state of consciousness often similar to drug consciousness often similar to drug induced hallucinations.induced hallucinations.

NDE bring up a philosophical question of NDE bring up a philosophical question of whether the body and mind are separate whether the body and mind are separate entities or the same. entities or the same. DualistsDualists believe believe that the mind and body are distinct that the mind and body are distinct entities. entities. MonistsMonists believe that they are believe that they are different aspects of the same thing.different aspects of the same thing.